Chapter 3: Li Yu’s weakness
Li Jun sat down on the empty seat to her left and said, "My apologies, I am late," his smile infuriatingly smug. They already despised him, so why not add fuel to the flame? Li Yu wanted to open her mouth and say something but her mother, as though she had sensed that she would speak, glared at her and Li Yu swallowed her words. This wasn’t the time nor the place to settle grievances.
Throughout the entire ceremony, Li Jun was absent-minded. Should he have been sad that his father was gone? Yes, he should have shed a tear or two, but his father said that the ruler of the world should never be vulnerable. He should never show his weakness to others to exploit, so when he died, he held his head high and like the perfect ruler and flawlessly performed the funeral rituals.
He was well aware that these officials only tolerated him because they were afraid of his tyrannical father. Li Mingze was many things but he was also fiercely protective of him, like a beast protecting its cub. Thus, when his father died, they shed their cowardly appearance and boldly confronted him both publicly and privately. Because of his father, they wanted to leave him with no way out as revenge.
When the ceremony ended, he picked up an incense stick, lit it and walked towards his father’s memorial tablet and stuck it into the petal-shaped incense holder. He didn’t have anything to say to him. This was the most respect he was willing to show.
As he stood there lost in thought, Li Yu, with a look of disdain plastered on her face, walked over to him, her intentions obvious.
Li Jun had never gotten along with Li Yu, in fact, they didn’t grow up together. Unlike other half-siblings who at least spend some holidays together, they had never interacted with each other, let alone cultivated any form of affection.
They were like strangers who wouldn’t even greet each other when in the same room. Thus, her hatred towards him was puzzling. He didn’t remember ever offending her, yet each time they met, she would wear that ugly expression as though he owed her millions. She would then try to provoke him without fail. It was quite baffling.
Li Yu glared at him and said, "Why bother coming if you were going to be late. Are you not ashamed of yourself?" Li Jun didn’t even look at her as he turned to leave, giving her no face.
Li Yu, "..."
She especially hated it when her brother treated her like air, like her existence meant nothing to him.
She followed after him, saying, "Hey, didn’t you hear me talking to you?" In two strides, she blocked his path, determined not to let him leave. Li Jun was amused by her childish behavior. Just when he was thinking of a way to get rid of her, he spotted General Yu in the garden with a beautiful woman, talking to him.
A sly grin crept up his face, making Li Yu frown in displeasure. He knew that she had secret feelings for Yu Wen. How, one might ask? She wasn’t interesting enough for him to keep spies on her. It was because each time he walked into the room, her eyes would light up so bright you could see stars in them. She would follow Yu Wen with her eyes wherever he went, like she was afraid he would vanish if she so much as looked away. Even when they were at the military academy, she would never miss any of his matches, no matter what.
Knowing this type of information, how could he not use it to mess with her? He suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "It seems like we will have wedding bells soon." Li Yu furrowed her brows, wondering what the hell he was talking about.
Li Jun pretended to act surprised and continued saying, "Oh, he didn’t tell you, rumor has it that General Yu has been cozying up with Miss Lia, look at them, don’t they look like the perfect match?" Li Yu followed his gaze and when she saw the General with his head lowered and the young woman whispering something to him, she was immediately filled with jealousy. She couldn’t care less about Li Jun right now. She scurried away, looking like a wife about to catch her man cheating.
With a look of triumph on his face, he leaned against the pillar, ready to watch a good show. It was all a lie, of course. He wasn’t acquainted with Yu Wen, so how could he know who he was hooking up with? He just wanted to stir up trouble by provoking Li Yu. As expected, Li Yu lacked the tact of an Imperial Princess and pushed herself between them, asserting her dominance over her love rival. Yu Wen happened to raise his head at this time, having sensed something amiss.
Li Jun put on a devilish smile brimming with mischief and raised his hand with a perfunctory wave before turning to leave. Yu Wen clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. He didn’t even go look for trouble with him today, yet here he was provoking him again. He clenched his jaw to the point of snapping, vowing to pay this back tenfold.
Li Jun had no idea that his small actions would put a massive target on his back. Just as he was heading for the exit, an older woman with a villainous face blocked his path and said, "Your highness, her Majesty requests your audience." Li Jun was very familiar with this woman. She was his stepmother’s attendant, seeing her was like seeing Xiu Ying. He sighed, wondering what she wanted from him now.
He said, "Lead the way." The older woman, her expression still so cold and indifferent, turned to lead the way. Soon, he reached the double doors leading to the imperial study. He stood there for a second, his feet refusing to move forward. He had stood on this very spot when he was younger. Instead of this tranquil silence, there were sounds of things being overturned and glass shattering.
Back then, he had peeked through the gap in the door, his small body shaking in fear. His father, who had always cared about his appearance and never had a hair out of place, now had disheveled hair and his clothes were messy. He no longer resembled the loving and caring man he once was. He looked like a beast trapped in human form, descending into madness.
As though sensing his presence, his father turned sharply, startling him. Li Jun had stumbled backward, calling out father when the doors were roughly pushed open, and a hand that resembled claws shot out and gripped his neck and pulled him in.
"Your highness, your highness."
The call brought Li Jun out of his dreadful memory. He met those inquiring eyes and said, "Shall I go in?" The older woman’s gaze narrowed with suspicion, but she lowered her head and opened the doors and let him in.
